Romania

Is Romania safe to visit?

Yes, with two caveats that matter more than crime: the roads and the wild. Romania recorded 0.79 intentional homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary people in 2024 (Eurostat), lower than many Western European countries, and the US rates it Level 1. We score Romania 79, close to Bulgaria and below Hungary (86) and Croatia (84), mainly because of road deaths.

The newer risk is the war across the border. Russia's attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube regularly send drones over Romanian territory. It is a real issue in the far east of the country and a non-issue in Transylvania, Bucharest or Maramureș.

How dangerous are Romania's roads?

Romania's roads are where visitors are most likely to come to harm. WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 9.6 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, the figure we score on. Newer counts are lower but still high for Europe: the European Transport Safety Council counted 1,296 road deaths in 2025 (provisional), 68 per million people. In the EU only Bulgaria's rate (71) is worse, and the EU average is 43. The good news is the trend: deaths are down 30% since 2019, one of the biggest falls in Europe.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary describes roads in a bad state of repair and poor driving standards. Expect drivers braking or swerving to avoid potholes, risky overtaking on busy two-lane national roads, and horse-drawn carts, livestock and stray dogs in villages, often unlit at night. Winter tyres are required on snow and ice. Avoid driving rural roads after dark, and take the train or a long-distance bus where you can.

Russian drones near the Ukrainian border

Romania's eastern border runs along the Danube opposite Ukrainian ports such as Izmail and Reni, which Russia attacks with drones. Some cross into Romania. On 29 May 2026 a Russian drone crashed into the ninth floor of a block of flats in Galați, starting a fire; a woman was burned, a 14-year-old boy was treated for shock, and about 70 residents were evacuated. In April 2026 drone debris damaged property in Galați for the first time. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary updated its advice in September 2026 to say drones carrying explosives have landed or washed ashore.

For a visitor this mostly affects the Danube delta and the northern Black Sea coast. Keep RO-Alert emergency messages on your phone, follow what local authorities say, and do not approach or photograph military debris.

Bears and the Carpathians

Romania's mountains hold one of Europe's largest brown bear populations, and bears have learned that people mean food. The environment minister said in 2024 that bears had killed 26 people in 20 years. In July 2025 a motorcyclist was killed on the Transfăgărășan road after stopping to feed and photograph a bear near the Vidraru dam. Bears also walk into the outskirts of Brașov and resort towns in the Prahova valley.

• Never feed, approach or photograph a bear from outside your car.
• Hike in groups, make noise on forest trails, and carry bear spray on remote routes.
• Seal food and rubbish when camping, and use bear-proof bins where they exist.

Earthquakes and floods

The US advisoryUS travel advisoryThe US State Department's rating of each country from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel).More in the glossary notes that Romania has moderate seismic activity and a history of strong earthquakes, with Bucharest at the highest risk. The Vrancea zone produces deep quakes that shake the capital; the last major one was in 1977. Some older apartment blocks in central Bucharest are rated at high risk of collapse; check the building if you rent a flat there. Heavy rain also causes local floods.

Crime and scams

Violent crime against visitors is rare. Petty crime is the everyday risk, mostly in Bucharest. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary names exchange offices, hotels, public transport to the airport, main railway stations and airport terminals as places where distraction thieves and groups operate. Card details have been copied in some bars and restaurants, and taxi drivers sometimes overcharge. Use Uber or Bolt, which the FCDO calls generally reliable. Drug laws are strict and police are active at music festivals.

How we scored it

Violent crime (94) is the strongest factor, with a homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary around 1 per 100,000 or lower. Natural hazards (66) is the weakest, reflecting earthquake risk and bears. Road safety (73) sits near the top of the 8–15 band: WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 9.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2021, and the 2025 count of 6.8 per 100,000 shows a falling rate that is still one of the EU's highest. Conflict (78) is lower than in most of the EU because Russian drones have hit Romanian homes.